Innertube valve length...........a lesson learned.

[Dave7]

Edited***
I always carry patches and a pack of those pre-glued patches**.
Having got a p*****re I decided to just change the tube (first time for many years so a bit nervy).
Having done so I found the valve was so short that I couldn't get my pump onto it. I had no idea that valve lengths varied to suit different wheel profiles.
Fortunately I was at a National Trust place and they had an 'emergency cyclist's cabinet' in which was a foot pump which just fitted.
Now I may be the only CCr that wasn't aware of that problem but if not.....hopefully this will help someone else avoid the problem.
**Got home and fixed the p*****re with a patch. 30 minutes later it failed
***just checked. Valve extenders with tool are £9.00ish......why would you not just buy another tube??

 

[ianrauk]

I always carry longer valves what ever the rims i use.
Only a few weeks ago I had to help a cyclist in distress on my commute who also had a too short valve. I gave her one of my long valve tubes in exchange for her shorter valve spare.

Oh yes

PUNCTURE!!
PUNCTURE!!

 

[fossyant]

Pardon !!!

 

[fossyant]

Long valve tubes, fell short (hah haha) of this once, but I was at work. You need 48/50mm ones as the norm for 30mm deep section. 42mm for normal semi aero rims.

 

[Dec66]

PUNCTURE!!
PUNCTURE!!

Mummy! Mummy! The bad man said the p-word, twice!

Too cavalier for my liking. The Biggin Hill Carpet Tacking Avengers will be out in force now.

 

[Bollo]

My vanity bike has 50mm rims so for day-to-day riding I use bog standard tubes with some valve extenders. They're lots cheaper than the usually branded long valve tubes and are a little easier to carry in a back pocket.

A valve extender also makes a great Victorian brass telescope for your Action Man.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I always carry longer valves what ever the rims i use.
Only a few weeks ago I had to help a cyclist in distress on my commute who also had a too short valve. I gave her one of my long valve tubes in exchange for her shorter valve spare.

Oh yes

PUNCTURE!!
PUNCTURE!!

I suspect part of the problems I was having with Thursdays flat was that I'd got a short valved tube in a deep section wheel, the valve was only just long enough and I suspect the little pump I carry on the fixed was struggling a bit. I normally buy long valves so where the short one came from I'm not sure, might have come of the Eastway I brought last year.

 

[Moodyman]

I gave her one of my long valve tubes

 

[outlash]

Edited***
Having got a p*****re I decided to just change the tube (first time for many years so a bit nervy).

Just out of curiosity, have you not had a puncture for many years or had someone else to do it for you previously?

 

[Dave7]

Just out of curiosity, have you not had a puncture for many years or had someone else to do it for you previously?

Not had a punture.
I have not been a real/proper cyclist since my teens (50 years ago).......always had bikes but only for commute and the odd short ride.

 

[outlash]

You've done well .

 

[Dave7]

You've done well .

I thought it was a mind set thing!! Keep saying you will not get one and you wont
Now I know better.

 

[Levo-Lon]

40mm are too short to inflate on my road rims but ok on the wife's bike.
i found out after buying the wrong size...fortunately i was at home, had a blow out in the front wheel while on the fluid trainer !!! I know..crap conti tube de-laminated at the valve..ive binned the other ones i had and gone over to Boardman ultra lites..the black valve stems look cool with my wheels..sort of

 

[Dogtrousers]

i pringled my rear wheel last year (skinny rims). I took it to the shop to be rebuilt and they fitted an inner tube with a ludicrously long valve stem. It annoys me very very slightly every time I see it. But it doesn't annoy me enough to swap it for a sensible one. But enough for me to ask "what were they thinking?" every time I attach a pump.

 

[Bollo]

i pringled my rear wheel last year (skinny rims). I took it to the shop to be rebuilt and they fitted an inner tube with a ludicrously long valve stem. It annoys me very very slightly every time I see it. But it doesn't annoy me enough to swap it for a sensible one. But enough for me to ask "what were they thinking?" every time I attach a pump.

There's probably a German word for things that annoy you enough to keep you annoyed, but not annoying enough to do anything about it.